Besides the whole creepy pedophile factor, I believe that
Lolita and Humbert are good together. They both gave each other what they
wanted. It seemed as though Humbert was always
admiring young girls from afar, like watching them play while he sat on a park
bench. At most he might have had a fling with a nymphet before the girl came to
her senses. These instances lacked the
romance and passion he felt when he was in love with Annabel Lee so he was
never truly satisfied. When Lolita came along it was different. Lolita seemed
as though she wanted Humbert as much as he wanted her, if not more. She
initiated the romance by flirting and showing her interest in him. Humbert was
not use to this so he did not react immediately and was instinctively uncomfortable.
It seems Lolita benefited from this
relationship as well. She obviously wanted Humbert’s attention (she wasn’t
discreet with her advances) and he eventually gave her plenty. Lolita and her
mother had a tumultuous relationship; therefore, she did not have a supportive
family background prior to meeting Humbert. Humbert was not only Lolita’s lover
he was her step-father. He sent her to school, gave her swimming, tennis and
piano lessons. Although the relationship has numerous downfalls and dangerous
qualities at least both parties got what they yearned for.
I agree that they make a good couple, but maybe not "perfect." Lolita eventually left Humbert, got married, and moved on. To me it seems that Lolita and Humbert were seemingly perfect for a while, but the spark faded as they got more used to each other, and eventually Lolita got bored. I think what makes them seem so perfect is that the story comes from Humbert's perspective; however, he is nothing more than a grossly obsessed and naive man seeking the love of Lolita. Putting the whole age difference aside, I still do not see them as the perfect couple.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I agree, Ashley. In my opinion, Humbert became obsessed with Lolita because she was the first nymphet to show an actual interest in him. In the past, aside from Annabel Lee, all of his experiences were flings with young prostitutes. Also, as James said, they did not stay together in the end. Lolita was trying to run away from Humbert for the majority of the time and he was working to make her stay so that he could just have sex with her as much as he wanted. I think Humbert was just a lonely, disturbed man and Lolita was a naive girl who took on more than she could handle.
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